LUXURY Bullet Train Ride: Private Hangzhou Day Trip From Shanghai

Recommended by 97% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Hangzhou, China

10 to 12 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Train is the quickest way to reach Hangzhou from Shanghai. Pair the comforts of a private day trip, including transport, a guide, lunch at a tea farm or a local restaurant, a boat trip, a scenic hike, and more, with the speed of a Chinese bullet train on this convenient day out. Choose between first-class, business-class, and second-class tickets, and upgrade to include round-trip transfers from your downtown Shanghai address.

See Hangzhou highlights including West Lake, Amanfayun, and Lingyin Temple
Sip Longjing tea, ride a boat on West Lake, and shop souvenirs
Eat with a local tea farmer in their home or dine at a local restaurant
Choice of train tickets with optional hotel transfers to suit most budgets

What's Included

Expert Guide: A knowledgeable local expert dedicated to crafting a personalized journey just for you
Tea Village Tasting: Visit a historic tea plantation, savor authentic Longjing tea for tea culture
High-Speed Rail: Round-trip business/first-class tickets for ultimate comfort
All Entrance Fees: Admission to all attractions listed in the itinerary — no waiting, no hassle
Authentic Local Lunch: Handpicked restaurant featuring genuine Hangzhou cuisine (Lunch Option)
Seamless Hotel & Train Station Pickup & Drop-off Service in Shanghai (All inclusive Option)
Connect Seamlessly: Enjoy complimentary WiFi onboard to share your experiences in real-time.
Cozy Ride: Spacious, air-conditioned car with panoramic windows to enjoy scenic views
Unlimited Refreshments: Bottled water provided throughout your journey

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
Shang Hai Hong Qiao Zhan, 北横泾 Min Hang Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China, 201106

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (Pass By)

Westlake Hangzhou

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Huagangguanyu Park

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Lingyin Temple

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Amanfayun

25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Meijiawu Longjing

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Southern Song Imperial Street

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Hangzhou Railway Station (Pass By)

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Passport name and number is required at time of booking for all participants (for your fast train ticket reservation)

Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Please wear comfortable shoes
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 58 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Perfect day in Hangzhou!

Gary_A, Jun 2026

This was absolutely awesome in every way. Lulu and Sam did a great job coordinating it. Especially since we booked it a day before...not our usual planning approach but we had a day and were so happy to book this. The train tickets were great, the driver to the locations was great. Lulu, as I said, was wonderful. We got to take a boat ride on the West Lake, see the ancient carvings, walk through the gardens, have a fantastic lunch and enjoyed our time at the Tea House. Also worked a little shopping in but I started to rain. Perfect day. Perfect tour!

Great tour hampered by ill guide

Carlton_W, Dec 2025

The online communication for this was excellent, service great. Train tickets were easy to get and use, instructions very clear and easy to follow. Our issue was with our guide. I'm sure she is a very nice young girl, but she was obviously very ill. Her deep coughing and sniffling were very disconcerting, and the fact she didn't wear a mask or even cover her mouth, even in the car, was horrifying. I immediately put on my mask and tried to avoid getting close to her. And though the air was cold, we opened the windows in the car to allow fresh air to help dissipate any contagion. I think because she didn't feel very well, the tour was rushed. Finally, as her cough became much worse, we decided to cut the tour short. Again, the support person was exceptional and handled our request for an earlier train ticket back to Shanghai with ease. I hope the guide was able to get some rest and recovery time.

West Lake visit

Jeffrey_C, Oct 2024

We enjoyed our trip to see and walk around the West Lake. The boat ride was relaxing. The tea room was informative.

Hangzhou day trip

Shu_H, Sep 2024

Iris was our tour guide. She very friendly and helpful. Good food and good view. Business bullet train experience wonderful. My daughter loves to wear Hangzhou tradition clothes taking pictures. Iris will wait for us to picking and wear the clothes to take the pictures. It’s so nice experience.

Badly organized excursion

Christos_K, Sep 2023

This was the most expensive excursion we ever payed for, and it was a disaster. Superficially organized, the restaurant was no good. No menu was given to us to choose from. We were the only guests. We were not escorted by a guide from the beginning to the end. First we were picked up by a driver who did not speak any English at all. he drove us to the train station and showed to us to go go. with difficulty and help of people on the train we managed to get off the train at the correct station. The return was a disaster. We were told that the driver will meet us at the South Arrival exit. we claim that no such a place exists at this big train station. we asked 30 officials to help us , even the tourist information desk and nobody ever heard of such an exit. After wasting precious time looking for the phantom driver we went back to the hotel by taxi tired and with a bitter taste in our mouth. We consider Viator responsible for the choice of the firm serving us on this event. we were not pleased at all. Dr Koukkoullis

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We are truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience during your recent excursion with us. We deeply regret that your journey did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us. We want to address the concerns you raised in your previous review and provide further context regarding your tour itinerary and the transportation arrangements: 1. Price Among all the similiar tours from Shanghai to Hangzhou, our route is the most budget-friendly and offers the best value for money, indeed, it emphasizes the excellent quality of our service. 2. Organization & Transportation： 1). Transportation and Meeting Points: In our tour itinerary, we clearly specify that the Shanghai segment of the journey, including your hotel and high-speed train station pickup & drop-off transfers led by local driver. And we had arranged for Lily, your guide, to meet you at the Hangzhou high-speed train station, as outlined in the itinerary. To ensure that your journey is not only cost-effective but also culturally immersive and enjoyableIt's important to note that local guides offer unique advantages over non-local guides. They possess an in-depth understanding of the area, its culture, and its hidden gems. Lily, being a local guide in Hangzhou, will provide you with an authentic and enriching experience during your time in Hangzhou. Her insights and knowledge of the city will undoubtedly enhance your visit. 2). Pre-Tour Communication: To facilitate your journey and provide convenience and seamless communication, we requested your email address before the tour commenced. We proactively shared important information with you via email, including details about your pre-booked high-speed train tickets, the scheduled meeting time with the driver at your Shanghai hotel lobby with a placard, and instructions on how Lily, your guide, would meet you at the Hangzhou train station, and instructions on how the same driver will wait you at the exit of the Shanghai train station. We included our contact number in these communications to ensure that you could reach us at any time with questions or concerns. 3). Our Service & Effort: We sincerely regret the difficulties encountered at the Shanghai high-speed train station. Shanghai high-speed train station is indeed a large and busy transportation hub with multiple entrances and exits. Each arrival gate has both north and south exits. Our initial plan was to have our driver meet you at the south exit, as agreed upon. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, your driver was unable to locate you at the south exit. Efforts to Find You: To assist in locating you promptly, our driver spent half an hour searching for you at the south exit without success. Subsequently, he made the decision to check the north exit in the hope of finding you there. Unfortunately, this attempt also proved unsuccessful. We attempted to reach out to you via email and phone, but regrettably, we did not receive any responses. In an effort to confirm your whereabouts, we even contacted the 12306 China High-Speed Rail Service Center to inquire if you had disembarked at the Shanghai station. Their response indicated that you had indeed exited the station. The driver searched for you back and forth at the train station for over 2 hours but still couldn't find you. Our final recourse was to contact your hotel to verify if you had safely arrived on your own. Upon receiving confirmation from your hotel that you had checked in, we were able to depart the station with peace of mind. 4). Guidance for Future Travelers: As a friendly reminder to our future travelers, if you do not immediately locate your driver upon exiting the train station, it is advisable to remain in place and await the driver's arrival. This proactive approach can help facilitate smoother coordination. We sincerely apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused during this situation. Our primary concern is the safety and satisfaction of our guests, and we genuinely regret any challenges you faced in locating our driver. We will use this feedback to further improve our communication and coordination procedures to ensure a smoother experience for future travelers. 3. Dining Experience: We regret that you had an unsatisfactory dining experience. Regarding the dining experience, we understand that the timing of lunch may have been different from what you were accustomed to. In China, lunch typically falls between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Your lunch reservation at 1:30 PM may have led to the perception that you were the only guests. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Additionally, we have been organizing tours in Hangzhou for over a decade, and the feedback from every customer regarding our arrangements for farmhouse experiences has been excellent. We would like to clarify that the restaurant where you dined is operated by local tea farmers. It's true that there are no English menus available, as the people at the farmhouses do not speak English. However, our tour guides are always there to explain each dish to the customers. Our guide, Lily, had provided recommendations for dishes in advance, and we aimed to accommodate your preferences. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the vegetarian dishes, and we appreciate the restaurant owner's generosity in providing you with an extra dish of shredded potatoes. It's reassuring to know that many of our previous guests have had positive dining experiences at this restaurant, despite its simplicity. The emphasis is on the taste and authenticity of the cuisine, which has received favorable reviews. Providing our guests with a quality meal is a priority, and we will investigate the issues you raised to ensure improvements are made. Your feedback is essential in helping us improve our services and ensure that future travelers have a smoother experience. Once again, we appreciate your input, and we hope you will consider traveling with us in the future. We are committed to making the necessary improvements to deliver exceptional travel experiences to our valued customers.

Highly recommended tour!

Joyce_I, Aug 2023

Highly recommend this tour. First of all, the tour organizer, Sam, was extremely helpful and patient when I needed to rearrange a few logistics, including changing a train ticket. My tour guide Lu was also very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of Hangzhou. Since I was short on time, she made every effort to ensure that we could cover as much ground as possible. She also went out of her way to help me with some logistics for the next city I was traveling to.